Stand-Level Transpiration Increases after Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) Encroachment into the Midstory of Oak Forests

Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L., redcedar) encroachment is transitioning the oak-dominated Cross-Timbers of the southern Great Plain of the USA into mixed-species forests. However, it remains unknown how the re-assemblage of tree species in a semiarid to sub-humid climate affects species-s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forests 2020-09, Vol.11 (9), p.901
Main Authors: Torquato, Patricia R., Will, Rodney E., Zhang, Bo, Zou, Chris B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cross-Timbers
Ecosystems
Efficiency
Encroachment
Forests
Groundwater recharge
Groundwater runoff
Humid climates
Juniperus
Juniperus virginiana
Multivariate statistical analysis
Oak
Physiology
Prairies
Precipitation
Quercus stellata
Runoff
sap flow density
Soil moisture
Species
Subhumid climates
Transpiration
Trees
Vegetation
Water budget
Water resources
Water use
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Summary:Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L., redcedar) encroachment is transitioning the oak-dominated Cross-Timbers of the southern Great Plain of the USA into mixed-species forests. However, it remains unknown how the re-assemblage of tree species in a semiarid to sub-humid climate affects species-specific water use and competition, and ultimately the ecosystem-level water budget. We selected three sites representative of oak, redcedar, and oak and redcedar mixed stands with a similar total basal area (BA) in a Cross-Timbers forest near Stillwater, Oklahoma. Sap flow sensors were installed in a subset of trees in each stand representing the distribution of diameter at breast height (DBH). Sap flow of each selected tree was continuously monitored over a period of 20 months, encompassing two growing seasons between May 2017 and December 2018. Results showed that the mean sap flow density (Sd) of redcedar was usually higher than post oaks (Quercus stellata Wangenh.). A structural equation model showed a significant correlation between Sd and shallow soil moisture for redcedar but not for post oak. At the stand level, the annual water use of the mixed species stand was greater than the redcedar or oak stand of similar total BA. The transition of oak-dominated Cross-Timbers to redcedar and oak mixed forest will increase stand-level transpiration, potentially reducing the water available for runoff or recharge to groundwater.
ISSN:1999-4907
1999-4907
DOI:10.3390/f11090901